The Friday Fizz: BARONS de ROTHSCHILD Blanc de Blancs, Champagne, NV

The Person:
(Ok, I’m making an exception with three people but I think you will see why) the three Barons de Rothschild: Baron Benjamin de Rothschild of Château Clarke, Baron Eric of Château Lafite, and the late Baroness Philippine (who passed in August of 2014 and is now succeeded by her son Philippe Sereys de Rothschild) of Château Mouton.

The Place:
The grand cru vineyards of the Cote des Blancs in Champagne.

The Story:
The three wine-growing branches of the Rothschild family have joined together to start a new Champagne house. They wanted to work at a high level and so went to numerous grower/producers and bought up (at great expense) small lots of reserve wines with which to start so their three cuvees would have real depth and richness. The three wines are a Brut, a Blanc de Blancs, and a Rosé.

The Wine:BARONS de ROTHSCHILD Blanc de Blancs (Grand Cru), Champagne, NV ($94.99)
A 12.5% alcohol fully sparkling 100% Chardonnay all from crus in the Cote de Blancs (Avize, Cramant, Mesnil-Sur-Oger, Oger and Vertus) utilizing 40% reserve wines. Aged on the lees 36 months with at least an additional 9 moths on the yeast after disgorgement. Pale-gold-straw in color; dry, medium-bodied with fresh acidity. Classic Chardonnay Champagne with lots of freshness. Elegant mostly citrus fruit but with real complexity and depth (from the high proportion of reserve wines). Fine elegant texture. Really holds the interest. A sort of Blanc de Blancs version of Krug’s Grand Cuvee. BearScore: 95+.